John Boozman

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing problem in the country. It is a problem the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies as an epidemic. The availability of prescription painkillers is a leading factor in the increase of opioid abuse. Since 1999, opioid abuse overdose deaths have quadrupled nationwide. Unfortunately, my home State of Arkansas is not immune to the problem. CDC data shows that it is one of 12 States with more painkiller prescriptions than people--I repeat, one of 12 States with more painkiller prescriptions than people. Benton, AR, police chief Kirk Lane has seen the impact in his community. During a recent visit to my office, he said: ``A lot of people become addicted very innocently and can't find a way back.'' Placing prescription drugs in the medicine cabinet for safekeeping is no longer the best option because 70 percent of Americans misusing painkillers are getting them from friends and family. Arkansas has implemented measures to combat this problem by decreasing the availability of prescription drugs and properly disposing expired and unneeded medication through the Arkansas Take Back Program. This is an important step that has resulted in the removal of more than 72 tons of unneeded medication from homes in the State. Congress has taken action to fight this epidemic. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs to reform its culture of prescription. Nationwide, pharmacies have a system in place to prevent overfilling prescriptions. It is time for VA to adopt a similar system. I pressured the DEA--the Drug Enforcement Administration--to reform its policy to allow clinics and pharmacies to serve as dropoff sites for the collection of unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Last year, we passed legislation to improve the prevention and treatment of opioid abuse by pregnant women and care for newborns affected by this abuse. That bill was signed into law. Congress approved more than $400 million in funding to address the opioid epidemic this fiscal year. That is an increase of more than $100 million from the previous year. Calls for additional funds for this legislation are premature. We need to see the progress and results made with the current finding. We must continue our commitment to the fighting of this epidemic and providing our communities with the tools they need to improve response to addiction and promote treatment and recovery. That is why we need to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. This bill can help give communities the ability to combat the growing opioid epidemic in Arkansas and across the country by expanding prevention efforts, supporting law enforcement, combating overdoses, and expanding access to treatment. I have heard from many Arkansans who support this bill. It has the support of a wide range of organizations that represent law enforcement officials, drug treatment providers, and health care professionals. This speaks to the comprehensive approach we are taking to fight this epidemic. It also authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to veterans treatment courts. These courts are critical in helping our veterans break the cycle of addiction and turning their lives around. Prescription drug abuse is a widespread problem that impacts all ages and populations of Americans. I am committed to providing Arkansas communities the resources they need to fight this epidemic. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life of Judge Dan Kemp Nall of Sheridan, AR, who passed away on Sunday, February 14, 2016. Judge Nall was a beloved husband, brother, father, and grandfather. He was also a dedicated public servant, especially to his friends and neighbors in Grant County where he served as county judge for 10 terms after serving for 20 years on the Grant County Quorum Court. He was also active in many civic organizations, including the Jaycees and the Sheridan Rotary Club, further demonstrating his commitment to the people of his community. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Judge Nall was a dedicated Razorback fan. I admire his dedication to serving his lifelong home of Grant County. I know his leadership, dedication, and commitment to the community will be missed by many. I join with them in praying for comfort for Judge Nall's friends and loved ones. We will remember the valuable contributions he made which enriched the lives of those he served, and we honor his enduring legacy as a public servant.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the life and legacy of Arkansas businessman and former Tyson Foods executive Donald ``Buddy'' Wray. Buddy spent his life building Tyson Foods into one of the world's leading food companies. He was equally committed to serving northwest Arkansas and leaves behind a legacy as a respected community leader. Buddy started his career as a service technician in 1961, working as the liaison for the many family-contracted farms ensuring the health of the flocks. He rose through the ranks of the company. As a regular fixture at Tyson, his dedication led him to become the chief operation officer in 1992 and, a year later, the president of the company, a position he held until his retirement in 2000. His commitment and love for the company led him to serve as part-time consultant, but he returned to full-time service in 2008. Chairman John Tyson says Buddy was ``instrumental in everything the company did for over 50 years.'' Buddy was a strong voice for the Arkansas poultry industry, always keeping the needs of the farmer close to his heart. He was named the Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2000 by the University of Arkansas. In 2004, the university established the Donald ``Buddy'' Wray Chair in Food Safety within the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture. His exemplary dedication to agriculture was noted in 2012 when he was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame. Buddy truly transformed agriculture and was an advocate for Arkansas. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife of 50 years, Linda; children Cindy, Scott, Jana; their eight grandchildren; and the rest of the Wray family.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Albert Matthew Francis Witte, a University of Arkansas professor emeritus, former NCAA president, and World War II bombardier who recently passed away December 23, 2015, at the age of 92. Witte, born in Pittsburgh, PA, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in November 1942 after graduating high school. His prominent military career included flying 35 missions with the 15th Air Force in Italy as a second lieutenant bombardier, and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service. After earning his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Chicago, he went on to the University of Wisconsin School of Law, where he practiced law in Milwaukee. Witte spent the rest of his career at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he officially retired in 1994, but continued teaching until the fall 2015 semester. ``He taught at the University of Arkansas School of Law for nearly six decades--that's almost two-thirds of the school's 91-year existence,'' Stacy Leeds, the dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law recently said of Witte. His passion for law led to his involvement in many professional related projects, including member of the Fayetteville Planning Commission, member of the Arkansas Bar Association, a legal consultant to the Southern Governor's Conference, and a special assistant Arkansas attorney general, just to name a few. Witte's experiences made him a trusted confidant and consult to many in the University of Arkansas's athletics department as well. Twenty years of service as the university's faculty athletic representative allowed him to work with the Southwest and Southeast Conferences, the College Football Association, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. His NCAA involvement included terms as Division I vice president and the association president in 1989. On behalf of the U.S. Congress, I am privileged to recognize the life of Albert Matthew Francis Witte. As a member of the Greatest Generation, he lived a life of service. He leaves a lasting legacy through his brave military service, countless efforts on behalf of the University of Arkansas, and the knowledge he shared with several generations of attorneys across the Nation.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam President, I am here today with my colleague Senator Cotton to honor Dale Bumpers, a longtime advocate of Arkansas, who passed away on January 1 at the age of 90 after a long life of dedicated public service. He was a soldier and a statesman who came from the small town of Charleston, AR. He did things not because of political pressure but because he believed they were the right things to do. He had a good foundation to understand the needs of Arkansans. He was a businessman, taking over operations at his father's former hardware, furniture, and appliance store, and he was a rancher and an attorney in Charleston, serving, as his memoirs indicate, as ``the best lawyer in a one-lawyer town.'' Following the Supreme Court's decision in the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education, which outlawed segregation in schools, he advised compliance with the ruling, making it the first school district in the South to fully integrate. He ran against incumbent Governor Winthrop Rockefeller to become the 38th Governor of the State of Arkansas. Four years later, he defeated longtime Senator William Fulbright in a primary before winning a seat in the Senate, a position he held for 24 years. He served as the chairman of the committee on small business from 1987 to 1994 and has a long list of accomplishments. While he ended his Senate service more than a decade before I started serving in this Chamber, my colleagues who served alongside him regularly recall their memories of Senator Bumpers, a legendary orator who had a true gift for public speaking and who would tell stories in a way only a Southern gentleman with a keen sense of humor from smalltown Arkansas could. He was passionate about his convictions and spoke from his heart about matters that he believed in. In tributes to him on the floor during the last days of the 105th Congress, his colleagues described him as one of the most respected Members of this body. He was a champion of the environment, a supporter of the National Institutes of Health, funding the fight against HIV and AIDS, and a constant proponent for Arkansans. You could tell by all of the things that bear his name-- the White River National Wildlife Refuge, the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center. His impact on Arkansas agriculture was recognized by the University of Arkansas board of trustees, who renamed the college of agriculture the ``Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences.'' These are just a few of the many things in Arkansas that reflect his dedication and commitment to our State. Senator Bumpers leaves behind a legacy of public service, civic responsibility, and accomplishments that has undoubtedly made Arkansas a better place to live. I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the life and legacy of civil rights activist Ozell Sutton. A native of Gould, AR, Sutton paved the way for desegregation in the Natural State and throughout the South alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders. After graduating from Dubar High School in Little Rock, Sutton studied at Philander Smith College where he earned a degree in political science. He broke barriers as the Arkansas Democrat's first Black journalist. In 2012, he shared the story of his hiring, saying that he didn't know anything about journalism but was hired because the Democrat ``wanted to reach the black community.'' He worked at the newspaper for 7 years where he made a difference in how the newspaper covered the African-American community. He challenged the status quo, inspiring change in the news stories to refer to Black men and women as ``Mr.'' and ``Mrs.,'' just as it did with the White population. Sutton was an activist serving as a decoy at Central High School in 1957 when the Little Rock Nine integrated the school. He recalled being beaten after the mob figured out he was a decoy. He led integration efforts in Arkansas while serving as assistant director of the Arkansas Council on Human Relations from 1961 to 1966 and joined civil rights leaders to pave the way for equality across the country. He joined the historic march on Washington and marched for voting rights in Selma. Following the death of Dr. King, he served Governor Winthrop Rockefeller as the director of the Governor's Council on Human Resources from 1968-1970 and continued his public service with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Services. In 1972 he was appointed the director in the southeast region. He held that position until his retirement in 2003. As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Sutton served as regional vice president of the southwest region and southern region before going on to serve as the 26th general president. In 2012, Sutton was presented a Congressional Gold Medal as one of the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. Ozell Sutton dedicated his life to bettering the lives of future generations. He was a true American hero whose leadership helped fight desegregation and lay the foundation for equality. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, it is my honor to congratulate the Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council, CSCDC, on its 50th anniversary of providing critical help for the people of western Arkansas. Since 1965, this community action agency has administered a wide range of Federal programs that help with housing, utilities, food and other basic needs. This agency does not just process paperwork; it alleviates hunger, provides shelter, and gives hope to more than 50,000 Arkansans annually. I have always been struck by the great kindness and care that the staff at the CSCDC provides. The team, including 1,600 volunteers, is passionate about helping people and improving the community. They consistently look for new ways to improve their services, and I am grateful for their tireless efforts to support the homeless, families facing difficult times, and those who are seeking to improve their lives. I have had many opportunities to see their work in person, including helping a family celebrate their new home through the self-help housing program. The CSCDC is a leader in providing counseling for first-time and low-income home buyers and creating homes hand-in-hand with them that will stand the test of time. It also quietly helps those in greatest need each day with services such as utility assistance, emergency food, and a no-cost dental clinic. This year, the CSCDC has proven that it intends to remain a leader in community support for many years to come. This agency joined efforts to create the new Hope Campus in Fort Smith, AR, that brings together a number of nonprofits and services for the homeless in one place. It is a place of hope, healing, and opportunity.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate the Wildy family for being named the 2015 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. This honor recognizes the dedication of Wildy Family Farms and David and Patty Wildy to Arkansas's No. 1 industry. The Wildy family settled in Mississippi County in 1914 and has been on the same farm since 1938. David has devoted his life to farming, spending his childhood on the farm, and his passion has been passed down to his children. Wildy Family Farms is a fifth-generation farm. His father and grandfather both earned the Arkansas Master Farm Family award. Being named the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year has been a longtime dream for David. David and Patty oversee 9,200 acres of land where they grow soybeans, cotton, wheat, milo, and peanuts. The Wildys are committed to being good stewards of the environment. Energy and water conservation play a major role in the business. Using a private environmental audit process to protect the condition of the land, Wildy Family Farms is able to meet and improve its conservation goals and the standards established for environmentally responsible practices. David is a leader in Arkansas agriculture. He served as a member of the Mississippi County Farm Bureau board of directors for 7 years, presiding as president in 1986. In addition, he served on the Arkansas Agriculture Department board from 2005-2010 and is a member of the St. Francis Levee District board of directors, the University of Arkansas Agriculture Development Council, and several other boards and associations. The Arkansas Farm Bureau's Farm Family of the Year program honors farm families across the State for their outstanding work both on their farms and in their communities. This recognition is a reflection of the contribution to agriculture at the community and State level and its implications for improved farm practices and management. The Wildy family is well deserving of this honor. I congratulate David and Patty as well as other partners, which includes their sons and daughters Justin and Kristi Wildy, Tab and Taylor Wildy, Hayley Wildy and Paul and Bethany Harris, on their outstanding achievements in agriculture and ask my fellow colleagues to join me in honoring them for this accomplishment. I wish them continued success in the Farmer of the Year program and look forward to the contributions they will continue to offer Arkansas agriculture.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to an outstanding Arkansas educator, Meghan Ables, who was named the 2016 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. In nearly 13 years of teaching, Meghan's work in the classroom has made a difference in the lives of students in the Stuttgart School District. While she has taught a variety of subjects at Stuttgart High School, she currently serves as an English and journalism teacher. She has added reading and writing opportunities at the school by reestablishing its monthly magazine, The Bird Banner, and helping launch its studio, Ricebird Television. Meghan challenges her students to use their skills to improve their community. Her journalism class partnered with Arkansas Children's Hospital as well as the local police and fire departments to raise awareness about safe driving. Meghan's commitment to education also inspires those who work with her to do their best to encourage further development in the classroom. She has led professional development activities for using literacy techniques in the classroom, presented for the Literacy Design Collaborative, LDC, and provided Teacher Excellence and Support System, TESS, training to her colleagues. The Arkansas Teacher of the Year program, part of the National Teacher of the Year program, recognizes teachers around the State for their teaching excellence. This truly is a major accomplishment in Meghan's career and something for which she can be very proud. Her outstanding contributions to education, the Stuttgart School District, and her students proves she is well deserving of this recognition. I would like to offer my congratulations to Meghan Ables for her determination, devotion, and commitment to her students and to education. I am encouraged by her efforts to inspire our next generation of leaders and her drive to help them succeed.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to honor today Chancellor Eugene McKay of Arkansas State University-Beebe. Chancellor McKay will be retiring at the end of December after nearly half a century of dedication to education, the university, and the State of Arkansas. Chancellor McKay has been a fixture at ASU-Beebe since 1966. He started as a professor of English and French, became vice chancellor of academic affairs and, in 1994, was named chancellor. During his time with ASU-Beebe, Chancellor McKay oversaw an extensive campus renovation and expansion. Under his leadership, enrollment nearly tripled, and the ASU-Beebe campus had the highest student success rate of any Arkansas institution of higher education. His passion helped improve higher education across Arkansas. In 1999, he founded ASU-Heber Springs, and he worked with ASU-Newport to become a stand-alone institution in 2001. Chancellor McKay's dedication to his community extended beyond the campus. In addition to serving on the Arkansas Community College Board, he also served with the Beebe Chamber of Commerce, the Beebe Economic Development Commission, and United Way of White County, to name a few. Retirement won't slow him down. Chancellor McKay plans to continue to challenge himself by taking yoga and mathematics classes. I congratulate Chancellor McKay for his outstanding achievements in education and thank him for his service to ASU-Beebe and the countless students he impacted. I was proud to support his efforts to foster growth at the university and help make his vision for a campus emergency alert system a reality. I greatly appreciate his commitment to the university and higher education and wish him continued success in all of his endeavors. ASU-Beebe has benefited greatly from his leadership and dedication.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to honor today Milton Pitts Crenchaw, an aviation pioneer from Little Rock, AR, who paved the way for integration in the U.S. military and impacted generations of aviators. Crenchaw, known as the father of black aviation in Arkansas, developed a love of flying while at the Tuskegee Institute. He exceled in the program, and after earning his pilot's license, he pursued his instructor's certificate. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Crenchaw joined the Army Air Corps Civilian Pilot Training Program as a flight instructor. He had the distinction of being one of the original supervising squadron commanders for the Tuskegee Airmen. He trained hundreds of cadets during the 1940s, an accomplishment he was rightfully proud of. ``The first thing that he takes pride in is that he and the other Black flight instructors paved the way for people of color to enter the field of aviation. He is proud that he was chosen to implement that program,'' his daughter Dolores Crenchaw Singleton said in a recent interview. Crenchaw helped break the barriers that existed in the military. His passion for aviation continued after his tenure at Tuskegee, serving as a flight instructor at several air bases, including Camp Rucker, AL, where he became the first Black flight instructor. Crenchaw honorably served with the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force for more than 40 years. He also shared his love of aviation with Arkansas, and he was instrumental in creating an aviation program at Philander Smith College in Little Rock. Crenchaw taught aviation at the school from 1947 to 1953, holding classes at Adams Field in the Central Flying Service building. Along with the accolades of inductions in the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, in 2007 he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, along with other members we have come to admire as the Tuskegee Airmen. Milton Pitts Crenchaw passed away on November 17, 2015. Today he will be laid to rest at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. He was a true American hero whose leadership helped secure victory and peace for all freedom-loving people of the world.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the life and legacy of the mayor of Hackett, AR, Jeff Harper, who passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2015. Affectionately known as Papa Bear to many, Mayor Harper dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Hackett. Mayor Harper worked for the street department and served as a firefighter for a decade, eventually becoming the fire chief of Hackett. His commitment to the city of Hackett led him to run for mayor. He was elected in 2014 and served Hackett honorably the entirety of his all too short time in office. I am greatly appreciative for Mayor Harper's noble service to the city of Hackett and the State of Arkansas. My prayers are with his wife Trini, his three children, and all those who are mourning him during this trying time. I hope they find comfort knowing that he made a positive impact on his community.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today as a strong supporter of the resolution of disapproval we passed today. The WOTUS rule is a classic example of overreach. Arkansans understand that we don't need DC bureaucracies controlling our lands. That is why I stand with homeowners, small businesses, and family farmers in Arkansas in opposition to the WOTUS mandate. Passage of this resolution today reflects the American people's rejection of this heavyhanded mandate and shows our commitment to a balanced and thoughtful approach to water quality protection. Congress needs to send this resolution to the President. The President needs to understand the opposition this power grab is facing is very real. Not only is there strong bipartisan opposition to this mandate in Congress but also in the courts and most importantly with the American people. Last week I got an email from David in North Little Rock. David told me that he works in construction, and his email was clear. He supports protecting our Nation's waters, but David believes the Obama administration's rule will create huge problems and uncertainty for the construction industry. He said costs will increase, the industry will lose jobs, and he and others will face unnecessary delays as a result of the mandate that has nothing to do with protecting our waters. Legal experts within the executive branch have doubts about this rule too. At a recent EPW hearing, we heard that many career experts inside the agencies, particularly the Corps of Engineers, believe this rule is wrong, but each time the Corps expresses concern that the rule went too far, the EPA and the rest of the administration refuse to make changes. From puddles to irrigation ditches, the EPA wants jurisdiction over every body of water in Arkansas, no matter the size. These are not scare tactics, they are very real truths. In fact, the White House and the EPA are the ones engaging in scare tactics to defend this power grab. They falsely claim that this mandate is necessary to protect drinking water. Those protections are already in place with laws like the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more than 40 years, the Safe Drinking Water Act has fostered Federal-State cooperation. It has kept our drinking water clean. It is an effective law, one I support. It does far more to protect distribution water than anything in the EPA's power grab. In case these false claims don't scare enough people into supporting this unjustified power grab, the EPA has invoked rhetoric about rivers catching on fire and claim there is rampant toxic pollution in our waterways. Again, this is simply false. Without waters of the United States, major rivers will continue to receive Federal and State protection just as they have for decades. Isolated nonnavigable waters will continue to be protected by State and local efforts as they have in the past. The courts recognized how misguided this mandate is and have issued a temporary halt to the implementation of WOTUS. That injunction now extends to all 50 States. I applaud the Arkansas attorney general, Leslie Rutledge, for helping to lead that challenge in the courts. Senator Cotton and I stand arm in arm with our State's attorney general in this fight. We are committed to fighting this mandate legislatively, while supporting efforts to stop it in the courts. That is why today's vote is so very important. The resolution of disapproval will nullify the waters of the United States mandate. Arkansans understand how unnecessary this heavyhanded mandate is. We already go to great lengths to protect our State's natural resources. We must ensure that States, local communities, and private citizens remain a vital part of the process instead of giving all of the power to Washington. That is what this resolution of disapproval aims to do. I am pleased we passed it today. I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to honor Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1674 in Siloam Springs, AR, on its 75th anniversary. Chartered November 10, 1940, the post was named in honor of Levi Douthit, a WWI veteran. As a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I understand the importance of acknowledging the bravery and valor of the men and women who fought in defense of our country, as well as those who continue to serve. Men like Levi Douthit and members of VFW Post 1674 set their personal lives aside to fight for our country. This post recognizes the service, sacrifice, and courage of fellow veterans and continues to offer aid and assistance to those who served our Nation in uniform. As participants in the Buddy Poppy Program, members support the veterans relief fund. They serve veterans in and around Siloam Springs who need help with daily basic needs and transportation to VA health centers for medical treatments. Members continue their dedication to the community, offering scholarships to students, teaching flag etiquette, and, as partners with Kind at Heart Ministries of Siloam Springs, helping build wheelchair ramps for veterans. The importance of Post 1674 to the community was apparent when more than a decade ago a lack of membership and financial troubles nearly forced its closure. Businessmen helped raise support in the community and kept its doors open. I congratulate VFW Post 1674 on its 75th anniversary. I wish Commander Frank Lee and the 163 members who served in U.S. engagements since WWII the best of luck and many more years of camaraderie, service, and investment in the community.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I would like to recognize National Forest Products Week and the many women and men in Arkansas who rely on forestry and the forest products industry. As co-chair of the Paper and Packaging Caucus, I am glad to work with my fellow co-chairs--Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representatives Reid Ribble and Gwen Graham--to highlight the role that this vital industry plays in our country. About 25,000 Arkansans are directly employed in the forestry and forest products sector. Arkansas is home to over 100 wood products, paper, and packaging manufacturing facilities that make nearly $7 billion in products each year. Large and small employers dot the Arkansas landscape. I regularly hear from and meet with Arkansas families who earn a living and make great products at places like Green Bay Packaging, Domtar, Deltic Timber, and Georgia-Pacific. Every year, I meet with family tree farmers and small business operators who rely on our forestry sector to build a successful future. And I track and support efforts to responsibly manage and utilize our renewable Federal forest resources. According to the University of Arkansas, the forest and forest products industry produces $2.3 billion in wages that are pumped into the Arkansas economy each year. This economic activity creates and supports countless other jobs. I also serve as the co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus. In this dual capacity, I have seen the forest products industry's success in pairing economic growth with respect for the environment. The industry is making great strides in promoting sustainability and energy conservation, especially by using carbon neutral biomass, which meets about two-thirds of the industry's energy needs. Other successes include boosting exports and encouraging recycling. Paper recycling programs now reach 96 percent of the American people, and the industry is on target to recover and recycle about 70 percent of its products in the next few years. At the same time, the industry is facing challenges--from problems with our transportation policies and infrastructure to a regulatory maze that is too difficult and costly to navigate. Here in Congress, we need to solve these challenges together, through common sense, cooperation, negotiation, an open process, and a clear-eyed analysis of the facts. We also need to support the industry as it transitions. While more information is available digitally, paper and packaging products are still indispensable to our modern economy. For example, many Americans, particularly those in rural settings or with limited resources or computer skills, have difficulty accessing information digitally. That's why in general, and particularly at government agencies, the format of information should be a consumer choice. In conclusion, paper, packaging, and other wood products are at the heart of modern life and a modern economy. I am glad to join my colleagues in celebrating National Forest Products Week. These recyclable and renewable resources make our lives better, and forestry is truly an Arkansas success story--and an American success story. Thank you.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, Sunday, October 11, 2015, is the International Day of the Girl. Started 4 years ago, this day is an effort to raise awareness of issues of gender inequality around the world. This year the theme is ``The Power of the Adolescent Girl.'' As the father of three daughters and two granddaughters, I am keenly aware of the power of our girls, as well as the challenges that they face. For these reasons, I was proud to welcome a delegation of young women from Arkansas to my office in July. These ladies were attending a leadership summit here in Washington, D.C., and came to my office to advocate on issues related to human trafficking, gender-based violence, childhood education, and more. I am very proud of them and their efforts to fight the problems girls face around the world. Across the globe, girls and young women face incredible odds and challenges. Over the last 15 years, work by the United States and our partners has resulted in real change. Girls are now more likely than ever to enroll in primary school and receive important vaccinations and are much less likely to suffer health and nutritional problems than ever before. It is important that we continue these efforts, along with our partners, to solidify the gains that we have made and reach for even greater successes. I thank the young women from Arkansas and across the country who are making the crucial effort to advocate for those who do not have a voice. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that our children inherit a world of increased possibilities.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, the rare blend of soil type, environment, and availability of water make Arkansas an ideal location for rice to thrive and grow, making Arkansas the Nation's largest producer of rice. Last year, production in the Natural State accounted for more than 50 percent of rice produced in the country. Farmers in more than half of Arkansas' counties grow rice; 96 percent of those are family owned and operated. As the No. 1 producer of this crop, Arkansas has a unique role in the industry. That is why I am proud to recognize the 25th anniversary of National Rice Month. I am also proud to promote policies that enable our farmers to manage risk and ensure that high-quality U.S. rice remains a staple on tables throughout the globe. This industry is not only contributing to a nutritious and balanced diet, it is also an economic engine. Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, California, and Texas all produce rice. Nationwide, this industry accounts for 125,000 jobs and contributes more than $34 billion to the economy. In Arkansas, it accounts for more than 25,000 jobs. The rice industry stands to benefit from a change in policies toward Cuba because it is a staple of the Cuban diet. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that U.S. rice exports could increase up to $365 million per year if financing and travel restrictions were lifted. Arkansas's agriculture secretary recently said that the economic impact on the Natural State's rice industry could be about $30 million. Rice production is efficient. More rice is being produced on less land, using less water and energy than 20 years ago. As great stewards of the land, rice farmers are committed to protecting and preserving our natural resources. Arkansas' location on the Mississippi Flyway makes it a duck-hunting capital of the world and draws hunters from around the globe. I am proud to support our rice industry and celebrate 25 years of recognizing National Rice Month. I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to honor the men and women of Little Rock Air Force Base and the surrounding communities for their steadfast support, spirit of service, and faithful dedication to the defense of our Nation. In 1951, community leaders in Jacksonville, AR, and the surrounding region began petitioning Congress for the creation of a local air base. The needed support was unattainable in the post-World War II environment, so supporters took it upon themselves to raise the money and purchase the land required for the base. In only 32 days, these air base advocates raised more than $800,000, and with the combination of purchased and donated land, 6,359 acres were gifted to the U.S. Government for the establishment of Little Rock Air Force Base. On October 9, 1955, the base officially opened. Since that day, it has served as a strategic operating location for numerous mission sets. From reconnaissance and bomber alert missions to the ever-present readiness of Titan II missile crews, Little Rock Air Force Base stood ready. With their cargo aircraft and selfless airmen, the base has responded to numerous natural disasters and humanitarian missions. Most recently, with the C-130 Hercules, Little Rock airmen have had a continuous global presence. From training members of three U.S. services and 20 foreign nations to supporting operations on five of the seven continents, they embody their motto as ``The Home of Combat Airlift.'' Over the past 60 years, the men and women of Little Rock Air Force Base have employed weapons systems covering every key tenant of air power. Currently, the base seamlessly blends Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve command personnel into a singular fighting machine, taking airmen from initial qualification through graduate- level training. From its inception, Little Rock Air Force Base has been uniquely suited to fulfill any mission it is presented. The support of the community provides an unmatched strength that cannot be countered by any weapon system. The people of central Arkansas have opened their hearts and homes for six decades to welcome the men and women of the United States military. I am proud to represent the men and women of Little Rock Air Force Base and the communities who support them. I am grateful for their service and dedication and look forward to a future of continued success and cooperation.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to honor Robin Tripod Patten as a 2015 Angel in Adoption award recipient for her outstanding advocacy of adoption issues. Robin serves as Director of Social Services at Arkansas Methodist Medial Center, AMMC, in Paragould, AR. One of her many responsibilities in this position includes coordinating adoptions. Being a bereaved parent herself, Robin offers a unique perspective to the adoption process because she understands the pain of giving birth and leaving the hospital without a baby. She provides emotional support to both the birth mother and the adoptive parents and assists new and prospective parents in navigating complicated legal matters when contemplating adoption. Robin is a Licensed Master Social Worker, LMSW, and dedicates her life to children. She is a mandated child abuse reporter who directs care of infants whose birth mothers had illegal substances in her system during pregnancy. For 11 years, she has served on the Greene County multidisciplinary child abuse task force working to ensure no child is overlooked or forgotten. I am proud of Robin for her dedication to adoption services and for investing in the lives of families in northeast Arkansas and am glad to recognize Robin as an Angel in Adoption for her efforts to connect children to permanent families. I commend her for her service and ask my colleagues to join me in honoring her and the many other advocates who continue to selflessly work to ensure that all children grow up in safe, healthy, and loving homes.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, yesterday Congress passed yet another short-term continuing resolution. While this avoids a shutdown, it is far from ideal. Certainly a shutdown is not good governing. I think all of us can agree on that much. I wish to remind my colleagues, though-- particularly those on the other side of the aisle--that continuing resolutions are hardly better. While the American people demand that we get our financial house in order, Washington continues to pass stopgap after stopgap funding bills. Instead of tackling this challenge head- on, these short-term extensions continue current funding levels and prevent us from stopping waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Just like a shutdown, this, too, is no way to govern. There is another option. We don't have to choose between a continuing resolution and a shutdown. The third choice is the right choice, and that choice is for this Chamber to follow regular order and pass all 12 appropriations bills. We have done our work at the Appropriations Committee. For the first time in 6 years, every spending bill has cleared committee--all 12--and most of them passed with strong bipartisan support. I commend the Appropriations Chairman Cochran and Leader McConnell for their leadership to make that happen. The full Senate has the responsibility to consider each of these bills as well. Leader McConnell is committed to this approach. Our caucus is behind it 100 percent. The minority, on the other hand, is actively working against it. Committee passage of these 12 bills was no easy task. Both sides made compromises. These bills were the product of a great deal of give-and-take. We worked very hard for months to ensure that these bills reflect the spending and policy priorities that are right for our Nation. These bills should not simply be left for dead. The President is encouraging the Senate Democrats to obstruct the appropriations process because he wants more domestic spending for agencies like the EPA and IRS. This is not the direction our country needs to go. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will reconsider this failed strategy. The funding bills show the American people that we share their priorities. For instance, the bill before us takes care of our Active Military and our veterans when they return home. Clearly this is an area of bipartisan agreement. Yet talk of a filibuster remains. Here is what the minority is considering filibustering: increases in funding for veterans services, military housing and family support, hospital and health facilities construction, just to name a few vital things in this bill. The bill increases funding in areas where our veterans need it most--health care, benefit claims processing, and medical research. It also includes funding for projects to ensure military readiness and improve the quality of life for military families. In light of the numerous scandals that have plagued the VA, it includes some strong policy reforms such as protection for whistleblowers. These are funding and policy priorities for both sides of the aisle. That is why this bill passed out of the Appropriations Committee with strong bipartisan support. That is why it should move forward without resistance on the Senate floor. Yet the minority is threatening a filibuster for reasons that have nothing to do with this bill. This is all about protecting the President's agenda. President Obama wants spending increases across the board. He has issued a blanket veto threat for any appropriations bill that does not meet his demands. Basically, the President's view is that if such agencies don't get more money, then neither should our veterans or military families. It is my hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle recognize this is out of line with our Nation's priorities. The right thing to do is reject the President's call to obstruct so we can continue to work together for the good of the country. Determining how we allocate taxpayer dollars is our responsibility, not the President's. Continuing resolutions have been all too common, while they should be a rare exception. We need to reestablish our priority of regular order and pass the individual funding bills that are needed to keep the government open. We can start that today and by moving the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill forward. I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I appreciate the remarks of the Senator from Georgia, and I certainly associate myself with them. This debate is vital. Despite President Obama's initial objections to congressional oversight, the American people deserve a vote in this critical national security matter, which I would note has been negotiated behind closed doors. The bill that we passed in May accomplished that. Now the Senate Democrats are talking about taking that away by filibustering this debate. How we went from passing Senator Corker's bill by a vote of 98 to 1 just a few months ago to a potential filibuster is baffling to the American people. Our constituents want this debate. They have a number of concerns about this deal. We are their voice. We are here to represent them, not to protect the President from a difficult veto. When these discussions began, President Obama claimed we would be able to diplomatically dismantle Iran's nuclear program. The final agreement suggests this is far from the case. It is apparent that the President and his negotiating partners were willing--eager, even--to give in to every demand made by the world's largest State sponsor of terrorism. The goalposts were moved from dismantling Iran's clandestine nuclear weapons program to blindly hoping we can contain it. The deal President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have orchestrated has several key faults. For starters, under the deal, Iran is not required to destroy a single centrifuge, not one. That means well over 1,000 centrifuges will remain in place at Fordow, one of Iran's most infamous nuclear sites. Many will continue to operate. This is no ordinary facility; it is a fortified, underground military bunker built into the side of a mountain. It was constructed in secret, and it has served only one purpose: to covertly produce weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium. When the talks began, the President was adamant that Fordow must be closed as part of the final agreement. However, over the course of the negotiations, the President caved. The Iranians will be able to maintain the capacity to continue enrichment activities at Fordow. The President claims that verification will ensure Iran's compliance. Verification appears to be exactly where this deal is lacking any punch. There is nothing in this deal that lets us confidently say we know what is truly going on at any of the nuclear sites in Iran. There are no anytime, anywhere inspections, including at Fordow. Even worse, international inspectors will not even be the ones handling the inspections at the country's military complex in Parchin. The Iranians themselves will be. How this is acceptable to anyone is astonishing. There is absolutely no reason, given the regime's history, to believe that the Iranian inspectors will be honest about what is going on in Parchin. A lack of verification is far from the only troubling aspect of this agreement. The Iranian regime believes that the agreement gives them full, permanent relief from sanctions. Lifting sanctions will provide Iran with approximately $100 billion in previously frozen assets which the administration has ultimately admitted will go, at least in part, to the Iranian military and its terrorist offshoots. It was hard enough to get the international community to commit to sanctions in the first place. With a reprieve of this nature, we will never be able to reestablish them should Iran not live up to its end of the agreement, which is a strong possibility given the Iranian regime's actions in the past. Along with sanctions relief, the international arms embargo and ban on ballistic missile research will also be lifted. Within the next 8 years, Iran will have access to modern offensive weapons. This does not bode well for peace in the region. It puts our security and that of our allies at great risk. Remember, we are talking about the world's leading state sponsor of terror. What we are giving up as a result of this deal, the sanctions relief, the arms embargo, the ongoing enrichment, makes the world a more dangerous place. We have a responsibility to ensure that Iran never achieves its goal of becoming a nuclear power. If Iran goes nuclear, Saudi Arabia and other nations in the region surely will follow. The deal gives us little confidence that we will be successful in this regard. A nuclear Iran could be devastating for America and our allies. This is about saving our children and grandchildren from the prospects of nuclear war. I cannot confidently say this agreement will accomplish this goal. In fact, I fear it moves us in the wrong direction. For that reason, I oppose the deal and intend to support the resolution of disapproval.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I wish to talk about S. 1707, which will name the Federal building located at 617 Walnut Street in Helena, AR, as the Jacob Trieber Federal Building, United States Post Office, and United States Courthouse.